Draft may help Cards at running back

By the end of last season, the roles of Cardinals running backs were as clearly defined as those of workers on an assembly line at an auto plant, if such a thing still exists.

Edgerrin James was starting again, after being benched at midseason. Rookie Tim Hightower was backing up James, filling the short-yardage role, and playing some in the team's spread formations. J.J. Arrington was the third-down back who excelled at screens and draws, plays that matched him up against bigger, and slower defenders.

It was shift work for each player, but it was productive and helped the Cardinals advance to the first Super Bowl appearance in team history.

But time moves on and change is inevitable. James, who hasn't fit comfortably in Ken Whisenhunt's offense, is expected to be released this off-season. Arrington departed via free agency for Denver. That leaves Hightower as the featured back, with newly signed Jason Wright penciled into Arrington's old job.

That leaves the Cardinals looking to draft someone to pair with Hightower, because Whisenhunt is a firm believer in a multiback system.

At the NFL meetings last month, the coach was asked to describe what skills a "Ken Whisenhunt" running back would possess.

The coach's running back

"I think a back who understands the blocking schemes and what we're trying to get done in the run game, and has the ability to minimize the negative plays," he said. "I think it's important you have a physical runner who is always falling forward, always moving his feet."

But, Whisenhunt explained, the roles of a running back are too varied and too demanding to be filled by one man.

"To me, it's also about having more than one back and you've got to have two backs who have a little bit of difference," he said, "one who is maybe an inside pounder and can get you those positive yards and one that can do some things in space for you. I don't know there is one back who can carry the load, game in and game out, anymore."

Hightower would seem to fit the role of the inside pounder, the gainer of tough yards. He proved adept last season at picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns. He struggled some when he was the featured back and ended up with more runs for negative yards than coaches found acceptable.

Luckily for the Cardinals, the upcoming draft is deep in running backs. And it's possible that one of the top three - Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, Ohio State's Chris Wells and Connecticut's Donald Brown - will be there when the Cardinals pick at No. 31.

Change of pace

Ideally, the Cardinals want someone who is different from Hightower, who is more of what scouts term a one-cut, downhill runner.

"A lot of people will classify a back as a big bruiser, an inside runner, or a scatback, a speed-outside guy," Whisenhunt said. "A guy we are looking for is maybe a combination of that, one that can do some different things.

"Right now, because we have a quarterback and some good receivers, we need a back with some versatility."

All three of the top backs in the draft appear to have that. Brown and Moreno did more in the passing game in college than did Wells, but Wells believes he can catch the ball, too.

Brown led the nation in rushing last year with 2,083 yards and is highly rated as a blocker and a receiver, as is Moreno.

After those three, the talent level supposedly drops off a bit, but good running backs should be available in the later rounds. That's usually the case, as the Cardinals proved last year when they selected Hightower in the fifth round.

Not all of the backs, however, will fit into the Cardinals' offensive system, Whisenhunt said.

"There are backs whose skill sets fit what we do better than other backs," Whisenhunt said. "I think it's an important part of evaluating these guys, how they fit into what your scheme is."

His role: The Cardinals are expected to release Edgerrin James this off-season, so they needed a runner to share time with Tim Hightower. Coach Ken Whisenhunt believes in a two-back system, and Wells should be a nice complement to Hightower. Wells is a good inside runner with the speed to make big plays. Hightower has proven himself in short-yardage situations and as a receiver.

OLB Cody Brown

Round 2, 63rd-overall pick

Height, weight: 6-2, 244.

College: Connecticut.

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

His role: A defensive end in college, Brown will transition to outside linebacker in the 3-4. He'll be asked to rush the passer as well as drop into coverage. The Cardinals have four veterans ahead of him, so Brown won't have to play immediately, but the club needed some youth at the position.